Nolasco also shut out the Nationals on Aug. 28. He had just two shutouts in 173 career starts before doubling that total in his last three outings.

It’s likely that Nolasco could have been had by anyone wanting to take his salary last month. Prior to the Aug. 28 shutout, he was in the midst of another frustrating year, having gone 9-12 with a 5.07 ERA. Given that he’s due $11.5 million next year in the final season of his contract, the Marlins likely would have been happy to move him. It didn’t happen then, but it might this winter, especially if a continued strong finish helps facilitate such a move.

Still, it’s not hard to see why there wasn’t any interest last month. Nolasco used to look like an underachiever with his excellent strikeout rate and middling to poor ERAs. With his velocity and strikeout rate both down the last two years, now he just looks below average. At least, when he’s not facing the Nationals.

Something about the Gnats just seems to bring out the best in the Feesh. The worst in them, well, that’s always more of less on display this season. But when they play the Gnats – incidentally, I hardly recognized the cleverly disguised Stephen Strasburg this afternoon – five different outfits, five different make-up jobs, and every one of them was completely convincing. But the Feesh, well, they just seem able to heet heem.